Flectrical connecter



Mamh 1932- M. MACINTYRE ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Dec. 13, 1928 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACKENZIE MACINTYRE, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRICAL oonnnc'rnn Application filed December 1a, 1928.

This invention relates to electrical. connecters, and more particularly to electrical connecters used in telephone switchboard cord terminals. I

In telephone switchboards it is necessary to provide a number of connecting cords having a plug on one end thereof for connection to various jacks on the face of the switchboard and having theirother ends detachably connected to an electrical circuit. On account of the small space in the rear of the switchboards, the terminal connecters must be small and mounted close together. These connections were formerly made by attaching the conductors of the circuits to a bracket in which a screw was provided for securing thereto the terminal of the cord and which was secured to a shelf provided therefor, by means of another screw. The connection 29 and disconnection of cords to the connecters in some instances, may be difiicult on account of the crowded condition existing in the rear of the switchboard and short circuiting of the terminals of Various circuits may also result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and simple connecter, and a terminal which may be easily and quickly attached thereto.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is provided a terminal con necter comprising a flat metal plate having prongs thereon. These prongs are capable of being driven into a wooden shelf thereby simplifying the construction of the terminal and materially facilitating its mounting. The end of the plate opposite the prongs is bifurcated to form resilient jaws to firmly grip a terminal inserted in the space between the jaws and an aperture is formed in the plate near the jaws toreceive the end of a conductor. The preferred form of terminal is hook-shaped so that it may be passed easily through apertures in the wooden shelf and between the jaws of the plate and may also be used with the so-called screw type connecters.

These and other objects of the invention 50 will be apparent from the following detailed Serial No. 325,687.

description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a shelf having mounted thereon a plurality of terminal connecters embodying the features of this invention;

' Figs. 2 and 3 are afront elevational View and a side elevational view, respectively, of the shelf shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of aconnecter embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a section of an electrical conductor having a terminal embodying features of this invention secured thereto, and

Fig. 6 isan enlarged perspective View ofa fragment of a shelf having a terminal secured to the connecter and supporting its associated terminal.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a wooden shelf having a plurality of apertures 1111 therethrough which may bev located in any desirable position in a switchboard(not shown). Positioned adjacent the apertures 1111 (Figs. 1. 2 and 3) are a plurality of terminal connecters 1313,usually termed cord fasteners in the telephone art, embodying features of this invention, and a cord fastener 12 of the screw type.

The cord fastener 13 (Fig. 4) is made from sheet metal and has a pair of prongs 1414 formed integral therewith. Curved inner surfaces 15-15 and straight outer surfaces 17-17 on the prongs cause them to spread outwardly upon being driven intothe wooden shelf so as to lock the fastener to the shelf. An aperture 18 is formed in the upper portion of the fastener near the edge thereof in which a conductor 19 of an electrical circuit (not shown) may be soldered. Projecting portions 21-21, the lower part of whose cooperatin'g inner surfaces form a circular aperture through the upper portion of the fastener, are formed integral with the fastener and have their upper surfaces rounded at 2222 so that a terminal 23 may be forced easily Inn between them. The cooperating inner surfaces of the projecting portions are spaced apart at 25 a distance slightly less than the thickness of the tip 23 of the terminal so that they will grip the top of the terminal firmly when it is forced between them. The lower portion of the projections are cut away to form the circular aperture so as to add to the resilience of the projections and cause them to reassume their original shape after having been associated with aterminal of a cord.

The terminal 23 which is secured to the end of a connecting cord 26, in a well known manner, has a portion 27 for connection with the cord and a flat hook-sha 36C]. portion 29 which is small enough to pass through the apertures 11 in the shelf 10 and which is tapered to facilitate its passage through the apertures. The hookshaped portion of the terminal is designed for a force fit between the portions 21-21 of the cord fastener 13 or for connection with the fastener 12. When it is desired to connect the terminal 23 to the fastener 12, the hook-shaped portion 29 of the terminal is passed over a screw 30 threaded in a vertically disposed portion 31 of the fastener 12 and secured thereto by the screw.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular type of terminal connecter especially adapted for use in telephone switchboards, it is to be understood-that the invention is capable of many other applications and should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An'electrical terminal connecter comprising a body portion apertured to receive an electrical conductor, prongs formed integral therewith for securing the connecter to a support, and oppositely disposed portions also formed integral wit-h'the body portion for resiliently gripping a terminal.

2. An electrical terminal comprising two longitudinally extending elements arranged to separate upon insertion in a support to securely anchor the terminal, and an oppositely disposed bifurcated portion integral with said extending elements to receive a connecter of an electrical conductor.

'3. An electrical terminal comprising a body portion, a pair of prongs extending from said body portion having a straight and a curved side, and the end of the body portion opposite the prongs having a slot which terminates in an enlarged opening to provide flexible terminal engaging portions.

4. An electrical terminal comprising a body portion, a pair of prongs extending from said body portion having a straight and acurved side, and the end of the body portion opposite the prongs having a slot which terminates in a circular opening to provide flexible cooperating portions for resiliently gripping a terminal.

5. In a switchboard having a shelf arranged with a plurality of apertures, a terminal member mounted immediately adjacent an aperture comprising a body portion, a fastening element integral therewith anchored in the shelf by the deflection resulting from its insertion, a bifurcated portion formed in said body portion, and a hookshaped terminal arranged to pass through said last named aperture and wedged in said bifurcated portion. Y

6. In an apparatus for interconnecting electrical conductors, a support having an aperture therein, a terminal member attached to the support adjacent to the aperture, said terminal member comprising a slotted body portion having a projecting prong arranged upon insertion in the support to securely an- .c-hor the terminal to the support, and a second terminal member extending through the aperture and wedged in the slotted body por- H tion of the first mentioned terminal member.

7. The combination with a support having an aperture therein and a conductor extending through the aperture and terminating in a hook shaped terminal member, a second terminal member having a slot for receiving the first mentioned terminal member, and oppositely disposed tapered prongs inserted in the support and securely anchored thereto solely by the deflection resulting from their insertion.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of November, A. D.

MACKENZIE MACIN TYRE. 

